INSPIRE Welcomes Two New Scientists to the Team

INSPIRE Environmental is proud to introduce two new members to our team as we build out our capabilities to support new endeavors in 2019. Born and raised in Rhode Island and a self-professed “shark kid,” Brian Gervelis joins us as INSPIRE’s new Project Scientist. Brian received his BS in Marine Biology and his MS in Fisheries Science from the University of Rhode Island, where he developed a love of thresher sharks while volunteering and then working for NOAA Fisheries’ Apex Predators Investigation.  “Little did I know the biggest shark tagging program in the Northeast is in Narragansett,” Brian recalled. Since then he has worked for the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program as a data manager and Northeast area lead assistant, and at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center as a data analyst focusing on cooperative fisheries research with commercial fishing vessels from New Jersey to New Hampshire. Brian is looking forward to doing fisheries work that supports the renewable energy sector with a young company and committed staff.

New Equipment Manager Dustin Varnell is excited about INSPIRE’s innovations above and below the surface. Dustin is responsible for our growing inventory of SPI, PV, and underwater camera equipment and makes sure equipment gets safely to and from any of our global projects. After working globally for the Merchant Marines and in the Oil and Gas sector, Dustin has been “excited to work more closely with scientists and dive into unique tangents that serve INSPIRE’s diverse project portfolio.” He holds a BS in Marine Transportation and a MS in Facilities Planning and Management, both from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and is eager to dive into the unique challenges posed by the myriad of locations that INSPIRE scientists conduct fieldwork. Dustin recognized that INSPIRE “excel[s] in benthic science and image analysis; There are immense challenges to putting something under the water and making it work.” After witnessing environmental degradation and mismanagement in the United States and abroad, Dustin noted, “Future solutions involve what INSPIRE is doing: accounting for the marine environment as we build more underwater infrastructure with advancing technology.”

Welcome to INSPIRE, Brian and Dustin!